For years and years, we have been told that to make it in this world you must obtain a degree from a university. Although getting a degree is important, having job skills is even more imperative to have a successful career. Employers look more at an employees ability to get the job done instead of which college or university they attended, and here’s why:
The Risk of Higher Education
In the past, going to university guaranteed a graduate a job. Nowadays, finding a job is much harder than before. Not many people are able to find work as easy after university. With costs of high education being so expensive, there’s now a greater risk involved with earning a degree. Without the guarantee of a job, going to university sometimes isn’t worth it. The price of higher education is increasing more and more to the point where a graduate will not ear enough in their lifetime to pay off their debt. Many people are opting for acquiring the skills and education they need through internships and apprenticeships.
Degrees Aren’t Qualifiers
Earning a degree is a step in the right direction, but it also doesn’t prove an employee has what it takes to do their job. When students attend university, they believe their ability to find a job is secure. What many do not understand is that obtaining higher education does not always give someone the skills they need for work. The fact is, 65% of children entering primary school will end up in jobs that don’t yet exist. As the world continues to advance and change, so will jobs. While college is trying to play catch-up with the evolving technologies, they’re unable to teach the new skills required for the careers of the future.
Options for Nontraditional Education
It is clear the having skills over education is more appealing to employers and is what will help someone excel in their career. Because of this, there are now more nontraditional education opportunities to teach people the skills they need to know in their line of work. There are programs offered by campus-based institutions and online institution with a detailed focus on in-demand skills. Although higher education can be very beneficial for some lines of work, more employers are interested in the skills employees can bring to their business and not where they went to school. Success in future careers will be measured by skills, not higher education.
This article was originally published on FredSines.co.uk.